Live updates: Celtics travel to Magic aiming to stay unbeaten in NBA Cup
The Boston Celtics visited the Orlando Magic on Friday night, striving to go 2-0 in the group stage of the 2025 NBA Cup.
Game summary
Jaylen Brown and Anfernee Simons alternated scoring bursts in the second half, but it wasn't sufficient as the Magic executed better plays in crucial moments, securing a 123-110 win at the KIA Center. This marked Boston's first defeat in Group B of the tournament.
Team records and upcoming games
- The Celtics now hold a 1-1 record in the NBA Cup’s in-season tournament.
- Upcoming matches include contests against the Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets later this month.
Individual performances
- Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 32 points, including 18 in the second half, shooting 15-for-28 from the field.
- Anfernee Simons contributed all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter, hitting 4-for-8 shooters.
Game flow
The Magic jumped to a 16-point advantage in the first quarter after a hot offensive start. They shot 49% overall and 50% from beyond the arc (9-for-18) in the first half.
Boston narrowed the gap in the third quarter fueled by Brown and improved defense. Derrick White’s fourth-quarter basket gave Boston its first lead since early in the game, but Orlando finished strong with a 28-14 run in the last six minutes to seal the victory.
"Orlando made more plays in crunch time and earned a 123-110 victory against the Celtics."
You can find everything you need to know in our Celtics-Magic recap.
Author's summary: The Celtics fell to the Magic 123-110, dropping their first NBA Cup Group B game after Orlando dominated crucial moments in the final quarter.